Blog | Health | Mindset | Training Lost the Fat. Found the Fight. Part 1.

Author / Bre Williams

5 - 7 minutes read

For anyone battling obesity, this is how strength training can rewrite your life.

We all know obesity is a real epidemic. Over 100 million adults in the U.S. are obese,

and more than 22 million are severely obese. Being fat has become normal. And for a long time, it was normal for me.

People look at me now and assume I’ve always been fit. But the truth? My journey couldn’t be further from that. In this two-part series, I’m sharing how I overcame obesity, took back control, and found the lifestyle that has changed everything.

Growing Up “The Fat Kid”

I had a typical Midwestern childhood: meals made with love, lots of casseroles, mashed potatoes, and second helpings. My family was thin, but I was the chunky one. Being “the fat kid” wasn’t just part of my body—it became part of my identity. I was the smart, fat girl with a pretty face. I got teased, laughed at, and carried a deep sense of shame. I obsessed over being skinny. I wanted the elusive “thigh gap.”

Even though I was active, riding bikes, playing outside, and in sports, I was always bigger than the other kids. I started dieting at 14. My first attempt? Low-carb. I’d run the square-mile dirt roads around our house and eat iceberg lettuce with lunch meat, a pile of ranch, and crushed saltines, thinking that was healthy. My parents didn’t know how to guide me as they themselves didn’t eat healthy or go to the gym. That year I lost a lot of weight, and that early weight loss kicked off a toxic pattern. I began binging, hiding food, and always finding myself “starting over.”

Toxic Cycles and a Broken Marriage

Young adulthood became a blur of fad diets and false starts. “This time I’ll stick with it.” “I’ll start again Monday.” I tried everything: keto, paleo, cleanses, pills. Nothing stuck. The gym was a punishment and though I had memberships I was not consistent. I was also in a toxic, abusive marriage with someone who didn’t care if I was unhealthy or unhappy. My self worth was at an all time low and it showed in every aspect of my life.

In 2015, I had gastric sleeve surgery. At 310 lbs I thought this would be the fix. I was finally going to be skinny.The weight came off fast as I dropped to 190 lbs. But I was malnourished, anemic, and weak. I looked “better,” but I wasn’t better. I had no muscle, no energy, and no real plan.

In 2018, I got pregnant with my second daughter. That’s when I told myself the sleeve stopped working…but the truth is, I stopped working. I never fixed my relationship with food. I went back to sneaking, bingeing, and sabotaging progress. I regained weight and hit 260 lbs again after giving birth. I felt lost, broken, and stuck.

Finding My Spark Again

That’s when I found Beachbody. And yeah, I know some of you hardcore fitness folks might roll your eyes. But for me, Beachbody was the spark. I started with 30-minute workouts and learned the basics of portion control. I wasn’t perfect, but I was consistent. My coach challenged me to 30 days of perfect nutrition. One day at a time, I did it. I beat the binge urges. I rebuilt my discipline. I lost almost 90 lbs that year.

More than that, I rediscovered myself. I fell in love with training. I left my marriage. I created space for a new life, one that I deserved.

From Baby Gains to Barbell Love

Then I met Bill, my husband and longtime member of the Power Athlete community.. He slid into my DMs after I posted a pic flexing, and the rest is history. For the first time, I had a partner who was all-in on this lifestyle. No more cooking two dinners. No more guilt for wanting to look and feel my best. He didn’t just support my lifestyle, he lived it too.

He got me under a barbell and introduced me to Bedrock. I was hooked. Beachbody had been good for getting started and building those habits, but this was the piece I was missing—lifting heavy and pushing my body like never before. I saw the “baby gains” firsthand and I will never forget the joy I had when I did my first pull-up. When I finally graduated to Jacked Street, that was it, I knew I had found my community.

Becoming a Power Athlete

The Power Athlete community blew me away. People who love lifting heavy, actively encourage others, and walk the talk. My body changed fast. I wasn’t just losing weight anymore—I was building muscle! Gaining confidence and curves I never had (hello, glutes!), and learning more about performance and nutrition than I ever imagined. I went from using fitness to punish myself to using it to empower myself.

And for the first time in my life, health and fitness wasn’t a chore. It was who I was.

Power Athlete changed everything for me.

Now it’s your turn.

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Write Your Own Comeback Story

Whether you’re chasing your first pull-up or your first power clean, We’ve got the the program to unlock your potential. This community changed my life, it can change yours too. Check out the Power Athlete Training Programs now.

Bre Williams

Bre, is a wife, mom of four girls, and Registered Nurse who discovered her love for health and fitness during her own struggles with obesity. With over a decade of experience in the medical field and her desires to help others meet their nutrition and fitness goals, she has a true passion for helping others in all aspects of life. She is a Power Athlete Certified Coach, currently pursuing a Masters In Nursing Administration as well as the Precision Nutrition Certification.